How do you get attention on social media?
You can’t wave your hands and put up a poster that says “Look At Me!”
Neon clothes won’t do you much good. Again, unless you’re putting up a photo along with your post, no one is going to stop. Actually, even if you do, what are the chances that it will stop anyone?
There are dozens of images in one minute of scrolling. People scroll faster than they breathe. Their eyes search for that one post which will intrigue them, or make them laugh, or give quick info.
Basically, they are looking for a post that will make them pause their scrolling and read.
It’s basically become a competition between posters: who can get the most views for their post? Because that’s somehow relevant. It means their views and opinions were validated. They were seen, even if it was for a moment. And who is okay with being invisible except for introverts?
And hence…the introduction of the Vague Post!
Congratulations. If you’re still reading, that means you understand vague posting.
Now let’s get to the point.
Everyone loves a good mystery. Agatha Christie novels are still read. Sherlock Holmes stories are still churned out in different media. Scooby Doo Mysteries are meme-worthy material. You can’t escape a good mystery and a good problem to solve.
You want to do it. Most importantly, you love gossip but won’t admit to anyone.
So, when anyone posts something vague, your interest is immediately piqued. What could they mean? Who are they talking about? You engage with the post. You wait until one of the comments have answered your query. Or maybe the OP decided to reveal the answer, unmasking what’s behind the post.
You end up engaging with the post without meaning to.
“You can’t believe what I saw today. It changed my life.”
Everyone wants to know what they saw. They want their lives changed, too.
“I’m glad they broke up.”
Who? A celebrity? Your neighbor? The Uber driver?
Or someone decided to post some random statistics about a country, and you want to know the standing of yours. That’s when they list several small countries on the map and add “See More…” It’s typed. It’s not even a link.
They just want you to read the statistics they posted, which they more often than not made up.
But the worst is “This will change your life. You need to read this.”
You most certainly do not. It will make you click a link, take you to a website with a post that is a 1000-word essay on their life history and then a two-bit line about following a diet, doing meditation and sleeping on time, then the article ends with how they decided to write an entire book about learning how to make the right kind of tea that will detox you, give you essential nutrients, and transform you.
Been there, done that, haven’t you?
So…what is the point of Vague Posting?
To get attention, of course. And if course, to aggravate those who scroll social media who are looking for gossip in their free time only to get a one-liner that could be about something important, or about the OPs personal life that you don’t care about.
In any case, you engaged with it. Now you’re stuck until the proverbial mystery is solved.
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